Ten tips to help you manage your workload

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We know how much you marketing and event bods have to do on a daily basis! A lot of your time is probably taken up on seemingly small details that are really important. If you’re anything like us, some days seem to fly by with that “to-do” list not getting any smaller.

The team here at OE have read lots of articles recently about the best ways to manage your time to maximum effect. We’ve summarised what we’ve learnt into a top ten list of tips…

1. Log your day

Carry a notebook around with you for a couple of days and write down what you are doing and when. This will help you understand how much you can get done during the course of a day and where your precious moments are going. You’ll see how much time is actually spent producing results and how much time is wasted on unproductive thoughts, conversations and actions.

2. Schedule appointments

If you have a task or an activity that is important to your success, then it should be assigned a time and a length, that way you will get it done. Ditch the to do list and schedule appointments.

3. Plan half your time to produce 100% of your results

It does what it says on the tin, schedule half of your time on activities, thoughts and conversations that produce 100% results, that way, if you are interrupted or if anything urgent appears, you can get it done without the stress and without disappointing anyone.

4. Schedule time for interruptions

If you’ve only scheduled half your time, then you’ve already done it!

5. Remember to allow for planning your day

Take the first 30 minutes of every day to plan your day. Don’t start your day until you complete your time plan. The most important time of your day is the time you schedule to schedule time.

6. Take five minutes to focus

Take five minutes before every call and task to decide what result you want to attain. This will help you know what success looks like before you start. And it will also slow time down. Take five minutes after each call and activity to determine whether your desired result was achieved. If not, what was missing? How do you put what’s missing in your next call or activity?

7. “Do not disturb”

Sometimes you just have to get something done without any interruptions, use a “Do Not Disturb” sign.

8. Schedule a time to return phone calls and email

Practice not answering the phone just because it’s ringing and e-mails just because they show up. Disconnect instant messaging. Don’t instantly give people your attention unless it’s absolutely crucial in your business to offer an immediate human response. Instead, schedule a time to answer email and return phone calls.

9. Block out other distractions

I’m talking about Facebook and other forms of social media unless you use these tools to generate business. Even if you do, why not use one of the many tools available to find out when most of your posts are viewed and schedule your activity to coincide.